News

As students in many local schools return to the classroom after Christmas break, much of America is still reeling with the tragic massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Dec. 14 where a 20-year old man took the lives of 20 young first-grade students and six adults. Many people — even locally — have asked whether schools are safe.

Local school and emergency services officials are in agreement that public schools in Lenawee and Monroe counties are as safe as they can be.

Blissfield Community Schools Superintendent Scott Moellenberndt said policies and procedures are in place in the district that provides safety and security for students and staff.

“We feel our policies are appropriate and reflect the climate of our community and the welcoming atmosphere we are trying to provide to our constituents,” he said. “We all have the … Read More »

The Blissfield Great Start Readiness Program opened its classroom doors on Monday, Jan. 7 for the first day of the program’s preschool education services for at-risk children. Twelve of the program’s 16 open slots had been filled as of Jan. 4.

In order to qualify for the state-funded program, children must be the age of four as of Dec. 1, and must fulfill two of 25 risk factors. Risk factors range from health issues, financial/economical disadvantages, low birth weight, developmentally immature, long-term chronic illness to name just a few.

While the 20-week program is provided only to at-risk children at this time, Blissfield superintendent Scott Moellenberndt said other school districts also accept students on a tuition basis, and Blissfield may pursue that option in the future.

Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. For the rest of the story, please pick up … Read More »

The annual free Christmas dinner prepared by the Palmyra Masonic Lodge served over 190 meals this year, up from 140 meals served last year, according to Mason Dave Bailey.

Bailey said over 50 volunteers shared in the charitable holiday spirit in serving 18 turkeys, over 60 pounds of potatoes, six trays of dressing and 14 pies for the festive feast at the Blissfield American Legion Hall.

Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. For the complete story, please see the Jan. 2, 2013, edition of The Advance.

The Palmyra Township Board approved a gas-and-oil lease with Savoy Energy at a special meeting Thursday , Dec. 27.

Steve DuPuie, landman from Savoy Energy, presented the township board with leases that had been reviewed by township attorney Frank Riley prior to the meeting. The township is leasing its oil-and-gas rights to property on Carleton Road. Savoy Energy is currently operating oil wells in the area.

One is on property in the vicinity of the property. DuPuie said that in order to drill horizontally from that site, the company was attempting to secure a wider area of leased property and the township’s parcel falls within that area.

“The lease does say there will be no wells drilled on the property,” Isley said.

Copyright 2013 River Raisin Publications, Inc. For the complete story, please see the Jan. 2, 2013, edition of The Advance.

Snowy road conditions had travelers driving slowly and local emergency responders tending to accidents. Pictured is a single-vehicle rollover accident that occurred on Yankee Road near Berkey Highway around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. Riga and Blissfield township fire department rescuers were on the scene and removed the victim for transport to a hospital.

Two of Blissfield’s finest have decided that 2012 was the year to hang up their badges and guns, and retire from the Blissfield Police Department.

Sgt. James Novak, who spent nearly 34 years on the job, retired officially on Oct. 31 and Officer Sam Pooley, who worked just over 36 years for the Village of Blissfield, will officially retire Dec. 31.

They took a little time last week to reflect on the decades they spent serving the community.

And just like their time spent working, the afternoon was punctuated with several members of the community passing their booth in one of the downtown eating establishments to greet them, everyone knowing each other on a first-name basis. Both men were hired in the 1970’s by Chief Roy Heineman. Harold “Butch” Gunter was the department’s sergeant and would become chief in 1981.

A tree fell on a Blissfield Community Schools bus this morning, sending five children to Bixby Hospital, Adrian, with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Jeff Jackson of the Palmyra Township Fire Department.

In a freak accident, a huge, rotten ash tree fell across the road and onto the school bus on Gorman Road wesk of Crockett Highway as students were being taken to school on Thursday, Dec. 20.